Time-indicator for telephones.



No. 876,493. PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

J. ROUNSEVILL & A. BILMS. I

S E N 6 M El L9 EY TL U RJ 0D m Rim 0 m Om Mm m IA E M I Tconversations, which causes JOHN ROUNSEVILL AND AUGUST BILMS, OFCUXHAVEN, GERMANY.

THEE-INDICATOR FOR TELEPHONES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Applicationfiled July 9.1906. Serial No- 325.428.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN RoUNsEvILL, a citizen of Hamburg, and residentof Cuxhaven, in the Empire of Germany, hotel pro rietor, and AUGUSTBILMS, asubject of the ing of Prussia, and resident of Cuxhaven, intheEmpire of Germany, watchmaker, have invented a new or im rovedTime-Indicator for Telephones", of W ich the following is aspecification.

The present invention relates to an improved time measuring device fortelephone an audible alarm, when the time for a conversation at a fixedfee approaches its end.

Special objects of the invention are to sim lify and cheapen theconstruction and to ren' er more efficient serviceable and durable inoperation devices of the kind referred to.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination,arrangement and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafterexplained, shown in the accom panying drawings and then specifically setout in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 illustrates a front elevation ofthe improved time measuring device, the dial plate being removed Fig.Zis a side elevation illustrating the internal construction. Fig. 3illus-.

trates the means for stopping the'watch work. Fig. 4 is a part plan viewof Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a front elevation of the improved timemeasuring device ready for use.

The telephone companies in the various countries have universallyadopted the custom of charging the use of the long-distance telephone bytime at'cert'ain fixed rates, the latter varying with the distance overwhich the conversation is conducted. This habit I has led toconsiderable inconvenience especi ally when the person conversin g hasbeen put into communication with the second party b the agenc of aprivate subscribers telep one. In t is case the subscriber is generallyunacquainted with the length of the conversations and fraudulent use ofthe telephone is frequently the result of the custom referred to. Hotelproprietors, restaurants, and other public institutions have sufferedlargely through the .want of a practical time .measuring device, whichavoids disputes and which will not touch the feeling of sensitivecustomers when being produced on asking for the proper amount of thetelephone conver-' sation.

I The present invention renders it possible to calculatethe propercharge by reading off the time occupied in the conversation from a dialplate of a watch set in motion at the moment when communication isestablished between the two parties and when the conversation starts.

In carrying into practice the invention a watch work, preferably that ofan alarm clock, is deprived of the hour hand and the ordinary dialplate, and is fitted with a dial plate a, whose circumference is dividedinto 60 equal parts indicating 60 minutes. Assuming the unit of a longdistance conversa tion allowed by the telephone company at a fixed feeto be 3 minutes, said divisionsv are noticeably marked on the dial asindicated in Fig; 5. Obviously thetime intervals granted as a unit forconversations may-be varied and may be marked in accordance on thegraduation of the dial plate.

The tubular shaft 0' carries in front of the dial plate a a fixed hand epointing with its extremity at over the graduation b and being driven bythe watch work to mark the 60 minutesof an hour. Behind the dial plate ais fixed to the shaft 0 a wheel f, whose periphery is provided with .20-saw-tooth like incisions or serrations 9', serving for causing anaudible alarm by setting free the alarm work of the device, when the endof the time unit approaches, in a manner to be described in detail lateron.

The front plate h of thewatch work frame encircles toothed wheel f andwhich is fitted at its free extremity with a lateral fingerk resting onthe toothed'cir'cumference g of the wheel A second curved spring arm 1firmly at tached to the front plate hand partially encircling thetoothed wheel f from the other side, presses with its free extremity onthe aforesaid spring arm '5. A lateral finger m of this spring arm 7centers into the watch work and arrests or liberates the hammer q of thealarm'device according to its elevation or position of heightrespectively. The alarm, if

which partially the aforesaid an alarm clock of the ordinary kind isemployed in the construction of the present time measuring device, mayalso be stopped in the customary manner by a nose t on the rotary handlep engaging behind the hammer Supposing the works of the watch and of thealarm to be wound up, the rotation of the minute hand e simultaneouslyrotates the toothed wheel f, thereby causing the finger k of the springarm i to ascend the inclines of the teeth 9 until it passes their apex,whenit will fall into the adjacent incision and start its next ascent.In ascending the inclines of the teeth 9 the spring arm Z, resting withits free extremity on the spring arm t, as previously mentioned, islifted and in conseuence the lateral finger m of said spring arm l israised off the rod 0 which is firmlyattached to the anchor at of thehammer q. The alarm works, being now set free, oscillate the anchor 'nand the hammer q sounds an audible alarm in the well knownmanner untilthe lateral fingers k and m descend to their former position. Theinstant of liberating the alarm device by the lateral arm m and theduration of the alarm signal may be varied according to desire orrequirement. In Fig. 1 is shown in dotted lines the lateral arm marresting the rod 0 of the anchor n and preventing the latter fromoscillation on its fulcrum under the driving impulse of the alarm works.About 10, to 20 seconds before the 3 minutes, assumed to be allowed as atime unit for a conversation, elapse, thetoothed wheel f raises thefinger 1c of the spring armfi and with same the finger m of the springarm 6 sufliciently to set free the anchor n. The alarm'signal sounds inconsequence during 10 to 20 seconds, calling the attention of theconversin party, of the telephone subscriber or of t e attendant to theapproach-- ing end of the time unit. On continuing'the conversationanother alarm signal is sounded atthe end of the second time unit.During all the time the conversation is conducted the minute hand emoves along the graduation I) on the dial plate a, permitting theduration of the conversation to be read off and facillitating thecalculation of the proper charge.

By providing an arrangement of well known kind, not illustrated in thedrawing and requiring no detailed minute hand may be turned back to zeroat the start ofthe conversation or it may automatically return to zerowhen the conversation is ended and when the works are stopped by hand.

.In order to stop the Works, when the time measuring device isnot-required for use, a

rod r may be attached to the rotary handle p, said rod entering theworks and terminating intermediate between the details may be chandescription, the

before described the handle p is turned laterally, thereby setting freethe hammer and the balance" ring '8, whereupon the driving impulse ofthe works acts upon the handle 0 an the toothed wheelf actuating theorgans the toothed wheel and the alarm in the manner previously described. I

While we have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form ofour invention, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves tothe precise form shown, for many of ed in form or position withoutafl'ecting t e operativeness or utility of our invention, and wetherefore reserve the right to make all such modifica tions as areincluded within the S00 e of the followmg claims, or of .mechan1caequivalents to the structures set'forth.

What we do claim as our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is:

nce ring 8 and in virtue thereof 'the 1. Improved time indicator andalarm device of the nature set forth, comprising a minute hand drivenaround a minute-graduated dial plate, a wheel keyed to the shaft of theminute hand having incisions or teeth at its periphery in accordancewith the time intervals allowed as a unit for telephone conversations',an alarm device and meansfor actuating said alarm device by theaforesaid toothed wheel at the end of every time unit, substantially as'set forth I 2. Improved'time indicator andalarm device of the nature setforth, comprising a minute hand driven around a minute-gradu-' ated dialplate, a wheel keyed to the shaft of the minute hand having incisionsorteeth at its periphery in accordance with the time intervals allowedas a unit for telephone'con- 'versations, a spring arm having a lateralfinger restlng'on the serrated circumference of the aforesaid wheel, asecond spring arm pressing on the first spring arm and having a lateralfinger, and an alarm device, whose actuating means are under the controlof the lateral finger of the second spring arm, substantially as setforth.

3. Improved'time indicator and alarm device of the nature set forth,comprising a minute hand e driven around the minute-graduations b of adial plate a, a wheel keyed to the shaft 0 of the minute hand e ehind'the dial plate a having incisions or teeth 9 at its circumference, aspring arm i having a lateral finger k resting on the toothed eripheryof the wheel f a second sprin arm ressing on the spring arm ihaving a lateral gar m,

an alarm driven by a spring work of the usual signed our narnes this31st of May 1906, in the kind, an anchor at carrying the hammer q forpresence of two subscribin witnesses.

sounding the alarm, and a, rod 0 in attach- 1 JOHN-' OUNSEVILL. mentwith the anchor n, said rod 0 being un- AUGUST BILMS. 5 der theinfluence of the lateral finger m, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as set forth. ERNST SOHULT,

In witness whereof we have hereunto PAUL THODE.

